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Guest Post by Catherynne John.

Health is the most important element of anyone’s life and it should be because all the wonders and happiness of the world are based on a healthy body. Even if you’re suffering from a slight flu you tend to overlook all the joys of a leading life just because of it. There never remains a single element of comfort with an aching body or a body that has no motivation to feel the activity of what life is all about. It is not necessary to have a healthy body because it appears to be skinny, nor is it a fact that a slightly disproportionate body will be unhealthy. There are very distinct features that make a body healthy and also active. A healthy body is able to overcome a disease more rapidly. You have the strength to endure a long run or even a small trek. You can feel fresh air in your lungs and strength in your bones. These are just a very few factors that make a person qualify towards being healthy. Many people who drive their bodies towards fitness talk about having to replace their eating habits which is exactly very true because health and fitness both strongly depend upon the quality and quantity of food that you’re taking in. if you’re spending an hour or more in the gym and then right after you straight away pull over to the Mc Donalds drive thru for a deal of salad, you’re wrong. The technique to have a good eating regime is to avoid processed foods as much as possible. Processed foods contain not only extra amounts of added sugar, oils but also chemicals to increase the shelf life and this is the main reason for it to cause a certain amount of harm than benefit. Though for fitness junkies there’s also another important element of healthy foods that are not thought about, to some extent. These are though nutritional in their content but they hold a handsome number of calories along with it. So some fitness concerned people often overlook the calorie aspect of it and go on devouring the foods without check. Here’s a list of 5 such healthy foods where the consumption might end up in a weight gain.

1. Avocado

There a lot of material available related with avocado nutrition, but most of it over-shadows the real facts regarding the fat value associated with it. Avocado is one of the leading healthy foods that are really high in terms of the nutritional value that it provides. Avocadoes are a rich source of minerals like Potassium, fiber, and along with it fatty acids that are good for the retention and promotion of the good cholesterol in the body (HDL). What makes Avocados a problem area is the fat that is present inside in a generous amount which accounts for over 70% of its overall nutritional value. This is constituted as more than the amounts of fats found in animal meat. The most important fatty acid, is the Oleic acid that is a monounsaturated fat. This very fatty acid is also found in olive oil and is thus known to have the same benefits and health value.

There are many fitness related recipes that include avocados as a core component. There is no harm in consuming Avocados, as discussed it is a rich source of many other minerals and nutrients but to consider it as a weightless component is completely wrong. One must always take into account the calorie number of 160 calories that’s attached to it.

2. Cheese

Cheese is one of the most favored part of a food be it either junk food or even a home-cooked healthy meal, the entire appearance of the food changes overall just with a slight spread of cheese on top. Either, it’s homemade pasta, salad, pies, you simply name it and there will be people around you suggesting ways in which you can load and stuff it with cheese. Though there are tons of low-fat and skimmed form of cheese readily available in the stores but there’s again no talk about the calorie factor associated with it. Cheese being a dairy product contains all the goodness of calcium vitamin B12, phosphorus, and many other nutrients that increase the overall benefits of cheese consumption. Like Avocados, Cheese is also composed of high nutrient fatty acids that increase the health value but also weigh heavy on the scale. A slice of cheddar cheese amounts for 113 calories, and a 100gms of mozzarella cheese is 280 calories.

So before you try and top up cheese in your burger, or sprinkle some extra on your salad, keep in mind this is going to turn into fat.

3. Dark Chocolate

The dream date of everyone includes lots and lots of chocolates. If it were for chocolate frenzy women, they would even opt to take their men covered completely in chocolate. This is all because of the mood enriching properties of chocolate that makes it so tempting and desirable. But we all know what chocolate does to you, it makes you fat! There is no shame in admitting what happens when you are about to go on your special week and there comes a strange and strong craving for chocolate and when you keep on helping yourself with a good serving of chocolate ice cream or even chocolate bars the level of the weighing scale pops right up.

Chocolate and especially dark chocolate is the form we are most interested in, is a rich source of minerals like magnesium, copper and manganese, along with it, it is a rich source of fiber. Dark chocolate is also a great source of antioxidants, that are researched to be higher in number than in blueberries. A lot of other factors are associated with the consumption of dark chocolate like it prevents heart disease, and increases positive brain functionality.

What concerns us is the great amount of fats present in Dark chocolate, which are known to account more than 60% of its total value. A mere 24gms of dark chocolate contains 155 calories, while a 100gms accounts for 546 calories, which is too much to even imagine.

4. Fatty Fish

To have a healthy, balanced diet we should look after the proportion and variety of food consumed throughout the week. As much as red meat is important it s suggested the white meat like poultry and fish should be the main source of proteins. Adding sea food into your weekly diet increases the body’s perspective of additional nutrients and minerals. Fatty fish namely, salmon, trout, sardines and mackerel are a great source of nutrition and strength as these fish are loaded with health omega3 fatty acids. These fatty acids have a positive impact on the cardiovascular and mental health of the body. Fatty fish are also a great source to obtain vitamin D.

But the fatty acids present also have a heavy grip on the calories and weight gain. 100gms of Salmon is 208 calories with sardines also ranging in the same calorie count.

5. Nuts

Winters is all about going crazy after nuts. The nuts are not only known to provide you with warmth internally but are also capable of fulfilling any loss of nutrients in the body. Nuts are a great source to obtain plant based protein. The nutritional value includes vitamin E, magnesium, and healthy fats. Magnesium is one such nutrient that most people do not tend to find in most foods. Nuts are good at increasing heart health, and helps staying away from type 2 diabetes.

The healthy nuts include walnuts, almonds, and the infamous macadamia nuts. But do keep into account that a mere 1 oz of almonds (including 23whole kernels) is 163 calories. So before you grab a huge bunch of almonds and pop them in your mouth try and follow the small and quick game.

Healthy foods are actually the best way to introduce good a lifestyle in your daily routine. But the factor that needs to be looked after is the quantity. Always look at the quantity of food that you are consuming, wither it is healthy food or junk food, a looked after portion is what is required.

Author Bio:

Catherynne John is a Senior Writer for OLWOMEN.com, an avid reader, fashion and make up enthusiast who simply lives to write and talk about all kinds of stuff. Focusing on how to grow hair faster these days with some trending easy hairstyles & bob hairstyles!

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Guest Post by Ella James

This is one of the best ways to target your chest muscles, triceps and front shoulders. Although there are many variations to this basic exercise, the main benefit will only remain to strengthen your biceps. This exercise can be taken by both male and female. They can be used to develop various different elements of strength the likes of maximal strength, hypertrophy or muscle mass, explosive power and strength endurance. This is the same exercise as the traditional bench. The main benefit of this exercise is to develop the upper portion of the pectoral muscles i.e. the chest.

1. Helps make the arms stable

The arms are able to move easily and freely. In case one arm is stronger than the other this exercise helps to are the weak arm as strong as the other arm.These exercises are the best for weight loss, they require a lot of hard work and determination hence giving the best results. It is the best for building the biceps peak than the preacher curl. These exercises are cheaper as compared to other modes of training. Most exercise machines are expensive and can perform only one activity while for dumb bells are so cheap and performs numerous activities. Self-confidence, self-esteem and positive self-image is improved instantly. Regardless of age, size weight or gender dumbbell exercise can quickly elevate a person’s perception of his or her attractiveness i.e. self-worth.

2. Dumbbells are well suited to explosive training

This is of great help to many athletes since these exercises are of great importance to them. Other machines are not reliable when it comes to explosive training their barbell weights are also expensive as compared to those of dumbbells. During the dumbbell training, the requirements are so affordable and cheap as compared to the other methods. You only require an open space for training a piece of plywood or a rubber mat to protect the floor. These exercises help build a strong chest. These exercise help in weight loss, due to vigorous exercise excess fat is burnt from the body hence remaining fit. A fit body maintains normal blood pressure, normal heart beat hence the occurrence of diseases will be minimal. These exercise help improve mental health for kids. You find that the school performance becomes better once the kid engages in these exercises.

3. Prevent aging

During the exercise there are many activities taking place in the body simultaneously example sweating which helps open the blocked skin pores. Once the pores are open the skin is able to excrete dirt and breathe in oxygen. In this process the skin is moisturized and hence wrinkles and age sorts cannot be formed. Dumbbells are done regularly hence a body that is used to routine exercises cannot give room to aging; you always maintain a youthful body despise the age. Aging is also brought by mental stress which is reduced instantly during the dumbbell exercise. Stress reduction also helps boost body ability to deal with existing mental tension. These exercise also help boost brain power and sharpen the memory, frequent dumbbell exercise helps improve overall brain performance i.e. quick decision making, higher learning and thinking. Happy chemicals are boosted during the exercise, this is noted in patients suffering from depression after the exercise their overall mood is improved. This exercise is as effective as the antidepressant pills in treating depression.

4. Increase relaxation

A moderate work in the dumbbell exercise act as an equivalent dose to a sleeping g pill even for people with insomnia taking dumbbell exercise raises body core temperature and signals the body to sleep. Also help control addiction to drugs, sex, alcohol or food. During the exercise the brain tends to concentrate on the current activity hence forgetting the usual ones, hence rebooting the body clock. These exercise help inspire other people who do not see any benefit in the dumbbell exercise. When in a group this helps increase motivation even to those who did not have interest.

Conclusion

These exercises help individuals remain focused during all other activities hence making them meet their goals. They help one to remain alert always to avoid being met offside. According to research the dumbbell exercise is very cheap hence it’s affordable for everyone. This exercise does not limit anyone; age, gender, sex or race everyone is comfortable. This physical activity can help reduce risk of many diseases and increase overall quality of life.regular physical activity help reduce risks of being affected by stroke, obesity, diabetes, back pain depression and many other dangerous diseases. Generally this dumbbell exercise has benefits in men like prevention of prostate cancer, hypertension and lowers level of cholesterol. To keep and maintain good health always try getting used to the inclined dumbbell bench exercise. Individuals are also able to get more social interaction and take off mind worries.

Author Bio:

Ella James is an aspiring author who is pursuing Health Services Administration degree from St. Petersburg College. She is an active contributor to Consumer Health Digest, which is a leading Health News Website. Her interests include reading and writing about Health, Fitness and Lifestyle News. Get connected with her on Facebook and Twitter.

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Eating natural foods is an excellent method to help your family enjoy a diet that is not only balanced, but also rich in essential nutrients. However, eating a diet such as this offers a few hidden benefits you might want to consider during the meal planning process as well.

Cool off

Eating cooling foods such as cucumber, melons, and citrus fruits actually helps keep you feeling cool and refreshed long after the snack. Drinking green tea and coconut water can have the same, long-lasting and refreshing effects – no matter how hot it gets outside.

Fight sunburns

Natural foods, such as grapefruit and tomatoes, contain a lot of lycopene. In addition to being a force for good when it comes to fighting cancer, lycopene is also widely credited with helping to protect the skin from damage from the sun’s UV rays. It never hurts to have one more layer of defense against the sun – especially when it tastes this good!

Improve health

The more colorful the combination of fruits and vegetables you consume on a regular basis, the more health promoting goodness your body is rewarded with.

Boost immunity

Garlic, citrus fruits, and Greek yogurt are excellent resources for boosting immunity. Drinking black tea in large quantities, five cups or more per day, according to research at Harvard University, also boosts immunity due to the L-theanine that is found in black tea.

Stabilize blood sugar

According to Men’s Health cinnamon is an excellent choice for stabilizing blood sugar in addition to other natural foods such as spinach, kale, almonds, cold-water fish, and high-fiber grains.

Manage inflammation

Natural foods such as kelp, turmeric, and green tea all serve to help manage inflammation.

Bolster metabolism

What do cayenne peppers, garlic, coconut oil, and cinnamon have in common? It’s not the recipe for granny’s famous breakfast muffins, that’s for sure. These natural foods are excellent choices for bolstering your metabolism and turning your body into the calorie burning, energy-producing machine it’s supposed to be.

Launch libido

Watermelon, avocados, dark chocolate, and asparagus all contribute to higher states of heat in their own way. There has been wide speculation about chocolate and women’s libido, but the Journal of Sexual Medicine recently confirmed that women who had a piece of chocolate daily enjoyed a more active sex life. Asparagus, with its high levels of vitamin B is a real libido booster for men and women while avocados are known more for their impact as a natural food libido enhancement for men.

Manage allergies

Local, raw honey is a beautiful tool for helping block many of the more painful symptoms of allergies. In fact, it’s like building up your own natural immunity to allergies without chemical laden injections.

Suppress appetite

No matter how fit and fabulous you may be now, most people today are still watching calories, and trying to eat a better combination of foods. You probably want to avoid overeating and may even be looking for ways to curb cravings for comfort-food favorites you know aren’t good for your body. Eating foods like almonds, apples, cinnamon, sweet potatoes, wasabi, and steel cut oatmeal can help suppress your appetite.

Improve energy

High-energy natural foods might surprise you. A few of the favorites you’ll want to consider include eggs, edamame, pumpkin seeds, and quinoa. These foods offer high amounts of energy building protein and are excellent choices for early meals and midafternoon pick-me-ups.

Relieve anxiety

Whole grains, seaweed, almonds, and blueberries are all excellent food choices for relieving anxiety and balancing mood. While diet alone is rarely adequate to eliminate anxiety on its own, eating the rights foods in combination with other treatment options such as deep breathing exercises and, perhaps herbal supplements, is highly effective.

The shocking news, if you look closely at the list, is that many of these natural foods help the body out in more than one way. It’s exciting to see what a difference a few changes in diet can make for your overall health and wellness.

http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-204_162-550409.html

About the Author:

Brian Forester is a health and wellness writer in the Chicago area. It is his goal to help people learn more about healthy natural foods and incorporate them into their diets. Companies like NOW Foods offer healthy options to improve wellness for everyone.

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Summer is one of the best times of the year for exercising, because of the beautiful weather and all the opportunities to try new things. However, it can be very difficult to get out of the loop of your normal routine to try something different. Exercising in the summer can be an especially rewarding experience if you explore your boundaries and try something new.

Tennis

Tennis is a favorite summer activity for many, because it’s not only a fun sport, but a great exercise. Playing tennis burns fat by mixing aerobic fitness with bursts of intensity, and also assists in improving your general body coordination and motor control.

Beach Volleyball

Beach Volleyball is a fantastic summer alternative to regular volleyball, because the sand on the beach acts as a great natural resistance, and adds another dynamic not found in the game traditionally. Beach Volleyball also helps tone your arms, legs, and even abs. One of the best parts about the sport, however, is that it provides an opportunity for you to show your body publicly and comfortably, while meeting new people.

Jogging

While jogging isn’t a strictly summer exercise, jogging in the summer is great because you get to visit new areas (as well as revisit old ones) without the worry of bad weather ruining your workout. Before jogging, make sure to warm-up beforehand, so you don’t hurt your knees or pull a muscle.

Hiking

For those who don’t like jogging, hiking can be a great alternative. Unlike jogging, hiking on a mountain trail is a slower, relaxing experience that still provides a great workout. Hiking puts a lot of pressure on your bones and encourages a healthy bone structure. Exercises like hiking also reduce the risk of high-blood pressure, and actually lowers blood pressure by 4-10 points, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Association.

Yoga

Yoga has become very popular with both men and women, because of its usefulness as a way to reduce stress. Yoga helps with your balance, range of motion, and strength, while also reducing the risk of developing a chronic disease. One of the best things about Yoga, is that you can do it nearly anywhere, as long as you have a yogamat on you.

Swimming

Swimming is a unique aerobic exercise because it allows you to work your body without major impact to your spine and skeletal system. Swimming is especially useful because it helps you develop more range of motion with your arms and legs, with the water acting as a resistance and as a weight, helping you grow the muscles in your body. Swimming is also great because you can swim at a beach, lake, pool, or waterpark, and meet plenty of new people while doing it.

Cycling

Bicycling is unique because it appeals to nearly all age ranges and groups: people, both young and old, can ride a bike. Cycling isn’t a high-impact sport, but instead works your joints gently while also strengthening the cartilage in your legs.

Ultimate Frisbee

Ultimate Frisbee is a sport, played mostly by college-age people, that could just as easily be called “Frisbee Football.” While the game might appear to be childish to some, there are actually some legitimate gains to playing. Ultimate Frisbee builds up speed and stamina, while also developing leadership and team skills.

Golf

Although a calm “gentleman’s sport”, golf is very beneficial to your health because of how much of your body is involved. Golf involves a lot of walking from hole to hole, as well as upper body involvement when you swing to take a shot.

Kayaking

Kayaking is a fun and rewarding way to get exercise out in nature. While paddling, a strong stroke will use every muscle in your upper body, and even some of your lower body and other core muscles as well. Kayaking is also a fun social activity, and is especially fun in groups.

Summer is a great time of year to explore different workouts, and stray from the monotony of a year-long routine. If you stay open minded while exercising, you are bound to get some personal wins and milestones. Who knows, you may even discover a new workout to add to your routine!

About The Author: Shawn Tremaine is a personal trainer and health and fitness writer, and has reviewed MindBodyMojo’s guide to Chicago yoga. When he’s not working on helping others increase their health, he likes to spend it coaching his little boys soccer team.

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Green tea has been consumed by people for centuries, most likely dating back to prehistoric times. It was first cultivated in Asia and has more health benefits than black tea. However, both green tea and black tea come from the same plant. The only difference is that black tea is more heavily processed. As with other foods, each extra step of processing robs it of some health-giving benefits. So what are the benefits of green tea?

That’s a great question. First, let’s admit that even though the first people who used green tea didn’t have modern degrees in science, they were more in tune with their environment, and out of necessity, their bodies as well. They may not have understood why green tea worked, but they were able to easily see the results.

Now let’s take a quick step back into the present day. It turns out that modern scientists agree with the people of past centuries when it comes to the benefits of green tea. The only difference is that scientists have a better understanding of why green tea is so good for you. Tea contains flavonoids and polyphenols, catechin to be specific. This works as an antioxidant and has a positive impact on health. Here are some of the advantages of drinking green tea regularly.

1. Preventing heart disease. There is evidence that the compounds in green tea work to lower the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. The thinking is that if the body takes in less cholesterol, then it can’t build up in the blood vessels. If that’s the case, then the risk of heart disease goes down.

2. Liver function. While modern medicine may not fully agree with the following, those who practice alternative medicine recommend drinking green tea to flush built-up toxins out of the liver. The liver works as the body’s main filter, and your health suffers when it gets backed up. Green tea may be the answer to this common problem.

3. Weight loss. Not only does green tea reduce the absorption of cholesterol, it does the same thing with fat. The more fat that passes through your system, the less there is to store. On top of that, compounds in green tea can lower the secretion of leptin. Leptin makes you feel like you’re still hungry, so keeping that under control will help you feel full sooner than you otherwise would. The other aspect of green tea that aids in weight loss is that it can boost metabolism; burning off more calories even when you are at rest.

4. Cancer. Studies have shown a strong link between drinking green tea and a reduction in certain types of cancer. Just don’t drink it too hot as it could increase your odds of problems in the esophagus.

5. Diabetes. Another one of the benefits of green tea that researchers have found is that it can help regulate blood sugar levels.

Whatever it is that made our ancestors discover the benefits of green tea, it’s a good thing they did. It is a drink that not only tastes good, but it’s also good for you.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you. Thanks for reading.

–Nigel

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A friend of ours wants to have an abdominoplasty procedure done. When she first told us about this, all we could do was look at each other. Afterwards, when we were by ourselves and were able to discuss it more, I made the comment that I thought she was nuts to want to have anything done.

Why? Because she weighs about 100 lbs soaking wet and works out like a fiend every single day. How could she possibly need to have a tummy tuck? Well, I was wrong to jump to any conclusion like that. She explained at a later date that even though she works out like a fiend, she is still getting older and the skin around her middle is starting to get saggy. It is because she works out so diligently that she wants to continue to look her best.

Can’t blame a woman for that now can you?

The procedure she will have is called a mini-tuck where an incision is made, minimal liposuction performed if any is needed, and the skin tightened, then stitched closed. The belly button does not require relocation with a mini-tuck. A drain tube is inserted into the incision to drain excess fluid. The lower abdomen is then wrapped with a compression dressing. Pain control using a prescribed narcotic or, if the pain is minimal, then over the counter pain relievers may be used. Recovery time is 2-3 weeks with a mini-tuck.

So, I learned my lesson. I learned that even someone who is in great shape and has incredible muscle tone can still be in need of firmer skin in certain areas of her body.

I have another friend who had an abdominoplasty procedure after having two pregnancies which resulted in two very big babies, 10 lbs and 11 lbs, respectively. She lost all the baby weight but since both the babies had to be taken Cesarean and were so big to begin with she ended up with a lot of excess skin in that area and she was told the muscles of her abdomen would never recover.

Obviously, the procedure she had done was a full tummy tuck which involved “baseball stitching” the damaged muscles, removing any fat remaining with liposuction, stretching the skin taut, trimming off the excess, relocating the belly button and closing the incision. Drain tubes were inserted to help keep fluid from accumulating and aid recovery. The area is then wrapped tightly with a compression dressing to help support the muscles. A narcotic analgesic will be prescribed to control the pain and discomfort associated with the procedure. Recovery time is approximately six weeks with a full tummy tuck.

So, if you are looking for a toned, flat belly, check out board-certified plastic surgeons in your area and call for a consult. Ask what your options are and if they think you are a good candidate for surgery. You may find that you are making one of the smartest decisions you have ever made in your life. Just think, no more battle of the bulge!

Although not recommended as a substitute for a weight loss or diet regimen, an abdominoplasty procedure can help correct the problem areas left behind when all is said and done.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you. Thanks for reading.

–Nigel

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So, just what is Vitamin B12 exactly, and why do people need to have it? It is a vital nutrient that’s found in food. It works to keep nerve cells healthy and helps our red blood cells work at optimum efficiency. Vitamin B12 is also important to proper digestion. Our stomach acids get the B12 from what we eat then mix it with other chemicals so it can be more readily absorbed as it goes through our intestinal tracts.

If you are not getting enough vitamin B12 you may feel lightheaded, weak and tired. Other symptoms include bleeding gums, sore tongue, diarrhoea, constipation, shortness of breath, ringing in the ears, confusion, tingling in the hands and feet, chest pain, digestion problems, forgetfulness and an inability to focus on things. None of these things are pleasant, and should be considered serious enough to make an appointment to see a doctor.

Even though there are a lot of symptoms, the reality is that a deficiency of Vitamin B12 isn’t all that common. It is available in many different foods, but the chief source is red meat. It’s for this reason that vegetarians are one of the higher risk groups for the deficiency. Therefore, if you do have a deficiency, it’s more likely caused by a digestive disorder than by your diet. Those with celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, chronic diarrhoea and related disorders are likely to lack B12 due to their not being to absorb Vitamin B12 properly.

Many physicians and dieticians recommend a shot of Vitamin B12 to their patients trying to lose weight, whether they are deficient or not. That’s because it works as a natural energy booster. The shot is given because a decrease in caloric intake often results in a lack of energy. For this reason, a lot of people swear a diet designed for B12 deficiency is good for those trying to lose weight. Many weight loss facilities use Vitamin B12 injections as a part of their services.

Gastroenterologists, family physicians and neurologists, also take advantage of Vitamin B12 deficiency diet therapy. As people go through the aging process their diets tend to change, and combined with a decrease of cognitive function, additional B12 is often required. Some doctors also give it to their patients that suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. While it isn’t medically recommended, students have been known to increase their intake of Vitamin B12 in the form of energy drinks to increase their ability to concentrate on their studies.

When it comes to losing weight, Vitamin B12 has another benefit: it can reduce food cravings. It’s pretty easy to see how that could help anybody that’s on a diet. In fact, with all it has going for it, it’s important to make sure you are not deficient in this vital nutrient. You can visit your doctor and discuss your concerns. They may suggest a simple blood test to check for a deficiency, and recommend a course of action based on the results.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you. Thanks for reading.

–Nigel

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BMI calculations, short for Body Mass Index, may seem like a complicated and mysterious process that is meant to remain beyond your grasp. That simply isn’t the case. Figuring out your BMI isn’t a scientific secret or magic reserved for only the fortunate few.

If you have ever tried an online BMI calculator, then you’re aware that all you do is enter your weight and height, and then it gives you your results. There’s usually a chart handy, or the website tells you if you are underweight, normal, overweight or obese. Even though the online calculator figured it out for you, you may still wonder how it got that number.

The good news is that while online BMI calculators may make it a bit easier, figuring them out on your own is quite simple once you know the formula. Before we get to the formula, let’s take a look at what BMI is and what it’s used for.

Basically, BMI attempts to give people an objective measure of their body mass. This is attained by comparing your height and weight, relative to each other (more on that in a bit), and then giving you a single BMI number. This number is then compared to the standard BMI scale to see where you lie between underweight and obesity.

One thing that BMI doesn’t measure is body fat. That means the number tends to get more skewed as the overall amount of muscle goes up. That’s because it weighs more than fat. Therefore athletes do not usually view it as an accurate measurement of their fitness. For most people, however, the BMI works as a pretty good calculation of their weight to height ratio. So, what is the formula for calculating your BMI number? Let’s take a look now.

This may sound complicated at first, but it’s really quite simple. Those in the US will have to take the additional step of converting their weight and height to kilograms and meters, respectively. Here’s the formula: kg/m^2 , which is your weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (your height times itself). So, somebody that’s 1.7 meters (about 5′ 6″) and weighs 70 kilograms (about 154 pounds) would do the following:

1.7 X 1.7 = 2.89 (1.7 meters, squared)

70/2.89 = 24.2 (70 kilograms divided by 1.7 meters, squared)

The number 24.2 is the BMI. The final step is to see where it falls on the scale. Anything below 18.5 is underweight. 18.5 to 24.9 is normal. 25.0 to 29.9 is overweight, and anything 30.0 and above is considered obese. Our example of 24.2 falls within the range for those with normal weight.

So that you know how to do it yourself, you won’t have to be near a computer to figure out your BMI. If you still want to use an online BMI calculator, that’s fine. At least now you will understand how the number is calculated – and, as you’ve seen, it’s no mystery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you. Thanks for reading.

–Nigel

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Unfortunately yes, dying young is a major health problem of an obese child. In fact this is the first generation in a long time, where statistically speaking the chances of children dying before their parents is rising. It is very sad particularly when it is totally avoidable through education, a decent diet and exercise.

Does that mean that the parents are at fault if their child is obese? No, of course not, life is never that simple. There could be an underlying medical reason why the child is overweight but in general it comes down to a poor understanding of basic home economics. People lack the knowledge required to ensure that their families are eating healthy food. This is not just because of a lack of education but in some cases it is a lack of cash as well. Decent food can be more expensive. A huge amount of money spent by various food retailers on marketing to convince us that certain foods are good for us. For example the fast food restaurants introducing bags of salad in a bid to convince us that eating in their establishment was healthy. With so much miss-information being given out by the media and advertising, why are we surprised that childhood rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and other illnesses are increasing?

So what can we do? We can all start by re-educating ourselves and our families. Work on what happens in your own home first before you try and take on the world. Teach your children the basics of good food nutrition. You can borrow or buy plenty of books on the subject from your local bookstore or library. Your medical clinic may employ a dietician who can help you to draw up a healthy menu for your family.

Start by ditching all the processed food you can. If you can’t give your family a home cooked meal every evening, at least aim to do it on five out of the seven nights. Insist your kids eat their dinner around a table perhaps while discussing their day with you and their siblings. Turn off the TV or the computer and enjoy an old fashioned healthy meal.

Every meal you eat should include some vegetables or fruit, ideally the former. We all know we should be eating five different types of fruit or vegetables a day. Try and get into the habit of doing this. It isn’t going to be easy as your kids may not like vegetables but I am sure there are ways and means you can adopt to fool them. You can try giving them grated raw carrot if they hate cooked ones. Blend up vegetables and hide them in the pasta sauce. Try combining fruit and vegetables in home-made juices. Get your kids involved in preparing the dinner as they are more likely to eat the food afterwards.

As well as eating more healthy foods, you need to get your children outdoors doing physical activities. Try walking to school if possible and going to the park or playground as a matter of routine rather than a one off treat. Small changes will lead to bigger ones. Your child’s future is at stake. It is up to you to avoid them suffering the health problem of an obese child.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you. Thanks for reading.

–Nigel

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“If you haven’t joined our community by LIKING ultimate3dayworkout on Facebook, you’re missing out on half the fun! Our Facebook page is the perfect place to ask fitness questions and get answers directly from me.”

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For anyone who has undergone the gastric bypass operation you are well aware of the challenges that can come with such a limited food intake. You know more than anyone how difficult it can be to make sure to eat properly proportioned and prepared meals so that you not only get all the nutrients you need but you can avoid a lot of the fats, carbs, and sugars that you don’t need, and that can actually make you sick. That’s why it’s so important to find good gastric bypass recipes, and the good news is that there are many places to look.

Of course, for several weeks after the procedure you will be greatly limited on the types of foods you can eat, at first you won’t be able to eat solid foods at all just Jell-O and protein shakes, then you will move up to pureed foods and finally, you will be able to eat most types of food. After the surgery, don’t be surprised if the foods you used to enjoy no longer satisfy you. Some people have reported that after the surgery they no longer liked to eat certain foods, such as meat. This may or may not happen to you, you will be spending some time relearning what you like, and what agrees with you, and what you don’t like or what doesn’t agree with you.

One thing you will need to do is to avoid eating too much processed foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars. You will want to have a diet that is made up more of healthy, low or non-processed whole foods. These are more nutrient rich anyway and are better for everyone, not just those that have had the surgery. If you eat too much highly processed carbs and sugar you will very likely get quite sick. You will experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Since there is a very real danger that you can get a ‘clog’ in your stomach, you have to make sure to thoroughly chew all of your food. For this reason you may want to avoid foods that have a very tough texture such as some cuts of meat. Raw vegetables might also prove troublesome to some people and you may want to use mostly cooked vegetables such as cooked carrots.

There are very real, and important, things you need to consider post-surgery when it comes to preparing the best meals for your body and your overall health. If you are interested in finding gastric bypass recipes there are many places you can look but one of the first places you should check out is right at your doctor’s office. They will most likely be able to provide you with some recipes to get you started, other than that you can find recipes online, or at your local library or bookstore. With the increasing numbers of people who are having the surgery done, finding tasty recipes is just going to get easier and easier.

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you. Thanks for reading.

–Nigel

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“If you haven’t joined our community by LIKING ultimate3dayworkout on Facebook, you’re missing out on half the fun! Our Facebook page is the perfect place to ask fitness questions and get answers directly from me.”

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